Blog Archives - Created through Him

Created Through Him

God's nature to save

10/11/2012

10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God (Hosea 1:10).

Under God’s sovereignty, in time, all things will be made right. Things are made right not according to human perspective but according to God’s perspective. When we are made children of God, we are made to be God’s people. The actions of God in human history are in relationship to the Creation. In other words, all created things are under God’s dominion. Part of this dominion is God’s ability to choose. God always chooses according to His will. So, God chooses to save according to His will. God’s will is always in accordance with His nature(Who He is). Therefore, it is God’s nature to save.

Many shall run to and fro...

10/10/2012

4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased (Daniel 12:4).

The explosion of knowledge and travel was predicated over 2500 years ago. The prophet Daniel clearly had prophetic visions of events that would occur both close to and long after his life. After reading the book of Daniel, little doubt should remain as to the sovereignty of God. God is the master of the past, the present and the future. And like Daniel we should look to and trust the Ancient of Days: Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer.

My Lord

10/9/2012

14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. 15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. 16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me (Daniel 10:14-17).

The experience of receiving the prophecies was exhausting to Daniel. In this passage we see that the messenger may have been the pre-incarnate Christ. Daniel says ‘my Lord’ indicating a sign of reverence and worship. It is fitting that Christ would be both the revealer and the strengthener to Daniel. This is true for us today as well. Christ intercedes on our behalf and through His word and the power of the Holy Spirit He is reveled to us and strengthens us. Remember too that the book of Daniel is part of the word of God as a whole and as such is the story of redemptive history.

70 weeks are determined upon thy people and thy holy city

10/8/2012

21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. 24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate (Daniel 9:21-27).

All prophecy is amazing but this one in Daniel may be the most amazing. And while as I said yesterday the purpose of prophecy is not to generally set dates, this particular prophecy is very specific in terms of timing. The coming of the Messiah is predicted nearly 500 years before Christ was to walk on the earth. In prophetic terms 490 years (In Hebrew prophecy a week is 7 years) is set for God’s people. Messiah is to come and be ‘cut off’ 69 weeks or 483 years after the order is given to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. This timing is consistent with the timing of the coming of Christ and predicts His death on our behalf as well as the subsequent fall of Jerusalem(Titus destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D.). There is one week (7 years) that remains apparently unfulfilled (although some would argue that this last week was fulfilled during Christ’s earthly ministry). Regardless, the prophetic timetable concerning the consummation of all things continues to move toward ultimate fulfillment.

According to God's will

10/7/2012

24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand (Daniel 8:24-25).

This prophecy from Daniel is a yet unfulfilled prophecy concerning the rise of a ruler set against God. The prophecy is concerning the end-times and will occur some time in the future. The point of God giving us information regarding future events is not so we can try and figure out when certain events will occur but rather so we will know that God is in control. Additionally, we are to know that God will be victorious and all that He commands will come to pass. God set His plan for redemption before the foundation of the world and all things will come to fruition according to God’s foreknowledge and purposes-To the glory of God.

Ancient of days

10/6/2012

13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed (Daniel 7:13-14).

This prophecy by Daniel is concerning Christ as king. As king, Christ has dominion over a kingdom. This kingdom has no end and is composed of peoples from all nations, times and languages. Christ is king of all. Notice too that in this passage God the Father is portrayed as the Ancient of days. All people since the very beginning have known God. There is something inside each of this that knows that there is a God. That knowledge is suppressed unfortunately as a result of the Fall. But God IS and one day we will all come before the Ancient of days and the good news of the Gospel is that Christ, as king, is already our Lord.

A story of faithfulness

10/5/2012

7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime (Daniel 6:7-10).

This story from Daniel is a story of faithfulness. Faithfulness is important regardless of the consequences. Consequences are in this case very dire in human terms. But it is not human terms and actions that concern Daniel. Daniel is only concerned about what God thinks and desires. This is a lesson to all of us to stand for God and against the enemies of God. This is ultimately a spiritual battle, a battle that has waged since the rebellion in heaven by Satan. We are to be and do as God commands, and leave the outcome to God and God alone.

Praise the King of Heaven

10/4/2012

37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase (Daniel 4:37).

This statement, by a pagan king, is astounding. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, is praising and acknowledging God. If took a lot for him to come to the point that he would do such a thing. Nebuchadnezzar had been plagued by dreams and eventually wondered around aimlessly and in a state of madness. But when he regained his senses, he praised God. As to whether Nebuchadnezzar’s statements concerning God were statements of true faith I do not know. But what is certain is that all people will praise God eventually. The lesson from this verse is that God is God regardless of whether people initially acknowledge this fact, and eventually all will know the truth.

The power of God

10/3/2012

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up (Daniel 3:16-18).

To respond in faith is to do what is right without worry of the earthly consequences. These consequences are of no regard. The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is a compelling example of faithfulness in the midst of terror. These three men faced the choice of worshipping an idol or suffering death by fire. They chose the latter. And God delivered them. It is important to note that these men did not assume God would rescue them; they just stated their trust in God’s power to do so. They were faithful and unassuming. God has the power to deliver us from any trial or tribulation. It is to the power that we should appeal.

Wisdom is His

10/2/2012

20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: 21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: 22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him (Daniel 2:20-22).

For God to be sovereign all things must be under His control. Control implies ability to choose and act. And so God exercises His sovereignty in the world around us. This began at the Creation and will continue throughout all eternity. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. This is not to say that we will always understand God’s purposes and actions but rather to acknowledge that God is the reference point for all knowledge and understanding. When we do not understand, we are to turn to God, in faith.

Created Through Him